A Cycling Safety Forum was held on March 20 at Minneola City Hall. The purpose was to inform residents of laws related to cycling, best practices for both motorists and cyclists and the current safety concerns related to cycling in the South Lake community. The forum also gave cyclists, motorists and residents an opportunity to explore how to successfully coexist in a rapidly growing community.
The South Lake Chamber of Commerce hosted the forum. Dave Colby, its president and CEO explained, “It is our hope that through this conversation, we can make positive steps towards a solution that is mutually beneficial for everyone involved.”
Daniel Whitehouse was the moderator of the Forum. Panelists included Lake County Sheriff Peyton Grinnell, Clermont Chief of Police Chuck Broadway, Lake County Commissioner Sean Parks, Bryan Davis of Trek Clermont and David Rath of Montverde Academy.
Whitehouse opened the forum describing why cyclists are attracted to south Lake and the problematic effects on its community.
“South Lake is known for its rolling hills and gorgeous terrain that attracts cyclists from all over the world. With increased growth in South Lake, cyclists and motorists need to reevaluate how we can share the roads to meet everyone’s objectives. This forum will explore the needs of cyclists and motorists and work to find ways to coexist moving into the future. Cycling sports are a major economic driver in South Lake and have been for more than 40 years. With the growth South Lake has endured—and the future growth planned—there has never been a more critical time to ensure cyclists, motorists, and residents coexist. Without understanding each other’s viewpoints, tension will mount between the groups, and that is bad for business in South Lake”
More than 100 cyclists, motorists and residents filled the chambers of Minneola City Hall to listen to the panel discussion and register their concerns regarding safety, traffic obstruction and debris caused during and after a race. The residents of Sugarloaf were most vocal regarding their frustration of bad behavior displayed by cyclists.
Clermont City Council Member Diane Travis, an accomplished competitive cyclist, believes that the people on Sugarloaf have a right to be upset, “No one should be parking on their property, leaving signs from an event, or relieving themselves on a fence! These bad apples are giving us a bad reputation”.
Travis said that the local cyclists she spoke with want to help remedy this situation. Some of the suggestions from the local groups were signage to say parking at the Green Mountain overlook, no parking on Sugarloaf, perhaps signage at bike shops.
“Many of these sports groups are willing to have clean-up days as done on the clay trail”, said Travis. “Perhaps the CTC, (Clermont Tri Club, ) SLAP (Swim Like a pro), and Florida Freewheelers could get together with their groups and have suggestions. The City of Clermont requires a deposit for events if signage and trash are not picked up they do not get their deposits back and/or they don’t get a permit next time. Maybe this need to be enforced countywide”.
Travis agrees with County Commissioner Parks that the county and municipalities need to keep working together. Roads need improvements and a driver’s test needs to incorporate rules of the road when encountering a cyclist. As the area grows, rural roads are not rural anymore and the speed limits need to be adjusted.
Minneola Mayor Pat Kelley voiced his opinion that within the next 10 years, the roads in the Sugarloaf Mountain area will be heavily traveled by motorists and less appealing to the cyclist. He is referring to the Hills of Minneola, a 1,834 (+/-) acre master-planned community, occupying all four quadrants of the newest section of the Florida Turnpike interchange near Hancock Road. The “Hills” will include a mix of offices, shopping, and residences.
“Cycling this popular area is here to stay no matter how many homes are built”, said Travis. “The cyclists love this area and want to preserve all of its beauty and respect the residents, but they also want safety”, said Travis.
Travis would like to have more discussions and suggestions at the next meeting, as well as desired implementations.
